Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Tough break
Hard-tackling Kiko Alonso out with broken thumb.
DAVIE — Now that the Miami Dolphins’ six-game winning streak is over the key is finding a way to recover from the beatdown they sustained in Sunday’s 38-6 loss at Baltimore and get themselves more firmly in position to make the playoffs.
And the Dolphins might have to do it without playmaking middle linebacker Kiko Alonso, who has a team-best 97 tackles, an NFL-best four recovered fumbles, and two in- terceptions.
Alonso is questionable for this week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals after having surgery Monday to repair the broken right thumb he sustained against the Ravens.
“There is a chance he can play,” coach Adam Gase said of this Sunday’s game.
Mike Hull, who had four tackles against the Ravens in Alonso’s absence, would most likely start in Alonso’s place.
Although there were lots of promises after Sunday’s loss about coming in this week and righting the ship, the Dolphins (7-5) are taking on lots of water
when it comes to their sinking playoff hopes.
Denver (8-4) defeated Jacksonville on Sunday to shoot past the Dolphins in the AFC playoff picture. As far as Miami’s playoff hopes, here’s the simple explanation – the Dolphins need to go 4-0 and need the Broncos to go 2-1-1 or worse.
But Gase isn’t paying attention to the multitude of playoff scenarios.
“I’m not even going to worry about it because you hear that every year and usually everybody is wrong,” he said.
Gase said the bottom line in the Baltimore loss was simple and correctable.
“We just missed opportunities,” he said, later adding, “You miss your chances against [the Ravens] they’re going to make you pay.”
Following this week’s game against the Cardinals, the Dolphins final three games are all against division opponents – at the New York Jets on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Buffalo on Christmas Eve (also a Saturday game), and then they host New England on New Year’s Day in their regularseason finale.
Recent history hasn’t treated the Dolphins kindly in December divisional games.
Last year, the Dolphins were 1-0 in their lone December divisional game. They defeated New England, 20-10, on Jan. 3, in the season finale.
In 2014 they were 1-2 in December divisional games, in 2013 they were 2-2, and in 2012 they were 1-2.
But help could be on the way in the form of Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey, who has missed the past two games, and six games overall this season, due to a hip injury.
There’s a chance Pouncey returns this week to help settle an offensive line that had one of its worst performances in weeks against the bullish Ravens.
Pouncey was tight-lipped in the locker room after Sunday’s loss, referring all inquiries to Gase. But true to form, Pouncey, one of the most personable players on the team, added some intrigue to the situation by smiling and saying to rookie left guard Laremy Tunsil, “They want me to ruin the surprise.”
However, even with Pouncey’s possible return against the Cardinals, and the return of Tunsil (shoulder) and left tackle Branden Albert (wrist) against the Ravens it figures to be a long road to the playoffs.
The Dolphins must pick up the pieces from a lackluster performance during the Baltimore loss.
The offense was held to one touchdown and produced a season-low 62 yards rushing.
The defense allowed a season-high 38 points and gave up 386 yards through the air and 110 yards on the ground.
Special teams also joined in on the misery when kicker Andrew Franks missed a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left.
For the Dolphins to get back on track some of the heroes during the winning streak must regain their magic.
Gase seems confident his team will recover.
“That’s this game, that’s this profession,” he said. “That’s not the first time we got smacked around.
“It’s been a while, though.”